SPORTS CLUB


It’s a bog-standard fertiliser, but it gets me through the season and does the job; it’s an ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ type of approach


rounded person for it.”


In 2011, I was given a chance to get back into the industry working at Meridian Sports Club where I worked for a couple of years until I was offered the Head Groundsman job at Gillingham in 2013. I put my all in until we agreed to part ways. Immediately after that, I worked for a contractor working at Charlton Athletic training ground doing some renovation work and installing drainage. Then, after speaking to the chairman here at the Meridian, who I had always remained in contact with, he told me there was a position at the club and asked if would I like to take it. I was more than happy to take him up on his offer, and I have been back here since December 2015.”


So far, Tony has gained his NVQ Levels 1


and 2 in Sportsturf and would like to take Level 3, but the cost, alongside work and looking after his kids, gets in the way. “I was going to do the Level 3, but the financial situations at the clubs I worked at didn’t allow it. I still plan to do it in the future. I have also gained my PA1, 2 and 6 spraying certificates. I do recommend to any young groundsperson or greenkeeper that they should ‘grab with both hands’ any opportunities given to them to further their education.”


Looking after the site on his own, Tony is responsible for the upkeep of one full-size first team pitch with a small stand, dugouts, catch nets and floodlights, along with four full-size pitches used for Sunday league football, and 9v9, 7v7 and 5v5 pitches. All


are constructed on a 30/70 rootzone mix. There is also a full-size 3G pitch. These pitches must cater for forty-two teams ranging from under-eights to adults. None of the grass pitches have any drainage or irrigation to speak of, except for a mains hose used to water any hot spot areas in summer on the main pitch. “It can be very frustrating in the summer watching them burn off when you have just got the pitches where you want them, especially the first team pitch. I have put plans forward in the past for an irrigation system and, to be honest, I bang that drum nearly every week in the summer. It would be great to have a system put in, but I fully understand the club has other plans and issues to address in the clubhouse first.”


It is clear that Tony has a massive challenge on his hands when it comes to providing the standard of pitches he has been used to in the past. Nevertheless, he does what he can with a limited budget. This effort is starting to reap rewards as Tony recently won Groundsman of the Year 2019 from the London FA. “It can be frustrating at times not having the funds available, even though I knew what I had to deal with when I took the job, and I accept that. My difficulty is, having worked at places where we had the means to carry out the correct practices and do things right, I just wish I had the same here. I don’t miss the rubbish and stress you sometimes have to deal with at professional football clubs though.”


What’s in the shed


New Holland tractor Toro 3100 Reelmaster Wessex rotary mower Fertiliser spreader Linemarker


84 PC February/March 2020


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